From Bristlecone Shooting, Training and Retail Center, Christina Dennis presents some safety tips for high school and college girls. The principles of self-defense for women, or indeed for anyone, state that avoiding potentially risky situations is the first step toward staying safe. Here are some specifics for young women.

First, don’t walk to your car without your friends. It’s best to carpool, but if you can’t do that, then at least try to park next to each other so you can go in and come back out with each other.

Next, let people know where you’re going to be and who you’re going to be with. There are some different smartphone and tablet apps for that, but ultimately, personal communication is key.

Finally, avoid being alone with a stranger. Don’t let someone you don’t know lure you away from your friends, whether you’re at a bonfire, a house party or a bar. Isolation is key for predators.

Those are some simple tips to help you be safer when you’re out with your friends. Training in unarmed self-defense is one possible next step, and PDN is a great place to start learning.

Rob Pincus and Deryck Poole work with a student on the range to refine his shooting position. Whenever you are training for defensive shooting, you should try to maintain a natural and neutral stance with your feet about equidistant from the target and your weight forward. Related videos: Problem Solving on the Range: Realistic Engagement

Instructor Don Edwards discusses and demonstrates the differences between shooting with a bipod and shooting from an improvised rest. Both methods can dramatically increase deviation control, but the improvised rest techniques are much more versatile and universal.